VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL)
An International Peer Reviewed Journal
http://www.joell.in
Vol.3 Issue 2
2016
RESEARCH ARTICLE
DEATH ACCEPTANCE THEORY IN AMERICAN LITERATURE:
PSYCHOLOGICAL READINGS OF DEATH POEMS BY ROBERT FROST,
WILLIAM BRYANT, AND EMILY DICKINSON
Dr.Norah Hadi Alsaeed
(Assistant professor-College of Humanities and Administratives, Aljouf University, Saudi Arabia.)
ABSTRACT
Death continues to remain as one of the biggest threats and a great
challenge to humanity. It is a single global event which affects all the human
beings in unrecognized modes. Due to the distinguished capability of human
beings in terms of social construction and meaning-making, it has developed as
a very dynamic and complex system, which involvessocietal, psychological,
biological, , spiritual and cultural factors. Whatever may be the definition we
link to death, death is always around us and continues to be a part of our
culture, and we all have openly embraced it. This report throws light widely on
the theory of death in American poetry with particular reference to the
contribution of three poets namely William Bryant, Robert Frost and Emily
Dickinson. The study considers the psychological concepts particularly, the
existential psychology in defining the theory of death.
Keywords: Death Acceptance Theory, American Poetry, Death Consciousness.
Citation:
APA
MLA
Alsaeed,N.H. (2016). Death Acceptance Theory in American Literature: Psychological Readings of
Death Poems by Robert Frost, William Bryant, and Emily Dickinson.Veda’s Journal of English
Language and Literature-JOELL, 3(2), 36-42.
Alsaeed,Norah Hadi. “Acceptance Theory in American Literature: Psychological Readings of
Death Poems by Robert Frost, William Bryant, and Emily Dickinson.”Veda’s Journal of English
Language and Literature-JOELL 3.2(2016):36-42.
© Copyright VEDA Publication
36
Dr.Norah Hadi Alsaeed
VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL)
An International Peer Reviewed Journal
http://www.joell.in
INTRODUCTION
The concept of evolving, meaning in life by
death is one of the base notions of existential
psychology. Various empirical psychologists such as
Rollo May have reflected that individuals need to
accept the certainty of their death and the deaths of
their beloved ones. Else, they cannot completely
indulge or determine the actual value of life. This
theory traces thorough research which concludes
that, more the meaning and purpose that people
experience in their lives, the less they fear death. On
the contrary, the refusal of accepting death to
existential anxiety could result in an emotional
trouble in day-to-day life.
Research studies about death anxiety
(Kastenbaum, 2000; Neimeyer, 2006) and terror
management theory (Solomon et al., 2004)
conducted by earlier researchers stressed in the past
fifty years about the psychology of death . There only
existed scant literature on death acceptance. The
study conducted by Ray and Najman(1974) was the
initial one instrumental in developing a new measure
with regards to the
death acceptance. They
determined that it had a less, but major positive
adjustmentin the two scales of death anxiety (311).
The evolvement of the co-presence of death
acceptance and death anxiety is vital as it shows a
conflicted attitude and elemental ambivalent
towards death. It is evident that it is not easy to
handle the problem of death anxiety about our
individual death. Irrespective of how vague and
remote, the significance of the death of a beloved
one or self will always remain unsettled as it upsets
the flow of a person’s life. Still, a strongly developed
system in death acceptance will control death anxiety
at a low level thus preventing it from interrupting our
everyday functionality.
Vol.3 Issue 2
2016
such as depression and anger that are involved in
handling the reality of death(55). Elisabeth’s
sequential stage concept is the one that was
criticized widely. For instance, Bonanno has found in
recent times that while coping with sadness; most of
the people reach a death acceptance without even
passing through earlier stages. Itwould not mean
there are no inner struggles along with emotions of
complexity included in sorrow (120). Only the
application of direct analysis on death acceptance
canacknowledge the modes and methods of coming
to terms with death in a positive way. Psychologists,
apart from death avoidance and death fear,
determined three unique categories of death
acceptance. First is “Escape acceptance” that selects
death as a better choice to a painful presence.
Second is “Approach acceptance”, denoting the
acknowledgment of death as an entry for a better
afterlife.Third is “Neutral death acceptance” that
indicatesfacing death with sensibility as an
unavoidable consequence of every life.
DEATH IN AMERICAN LITERATURE: AT A
GLANCE
Death in American Literature illustrated in
the composition of various well-known authors. The
best examples are the short poem“Stopping by
Woods on A Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost, Emily
Dickinson’s “I Couldn’t Stop for Death” and William
Cullen Bryantin“Thanatopsis”. In such poems, death
is found to be the major topic in American literature.
The prime themes of all these famous writings are
inconclusive and are open to assumptions.They all
end up with the same outcome of death. Depending
on the psychological theories that have arisen in the
last fifty years, particularly in extensional psychology,
this paper will adopt the interdisciplinary approach in
analyzing the psychology of death.
DEATH ANXIETY: AT A GLANCE
ROBERT FROST’S TREATMENT ON DEATH
In research and medicine, the key person
behind making death as a topic for discussion was
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. She created the Stage Model
which depicts the coping with death (denial, anger,
bargaining, depression and acceptance) that has
impacted on the determination of the death’s
psychological effects. A few defense mechanisms
were found by here which includes bargaining and
denial followed by reactions to negative emotions
“Attitudes of Escape” approach through
committing suicide expressed in the short poem
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert
Frost. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is
usually considered as Frost's masterpiece (Gallons,
39). In the poem,the poet discusses the misery and
confusion a man goes through when affected by
distress and death is the only possibility he requires.
For whatever cause, he is distressed, and his
37
Dr.Norah Hadi Alsaeed
VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL)
An International Peer Reviewed Journal
http://www.joell.in
desperation is about to drive him to the edge and
end his life. Clint Stevens thinks that the poem is “by
no means the most psychologically enriched poem
Frost ever wrote, yet in its austerity and clarity we as
readers only benefit (Online).” Perhaps the first thing
we notice is that the poem is an interior monolog. He
is emotionally and mentally bewildered, but it is his
conscience that reminds him of the people who care
for him and who would suffer if he died.
Frost uses an array of literary devices
throughout his poem that beautifully describes and
present the scene viewed by an unknown speaker,
the speaker contemplates suicide. The poem implies
the attitude of escape acceptance which results from
miserable living conditions that the speaker feels
unbearable. This death temptation may it be suicide
as well, is denoted by the woods that fills up the
snow during the year’s darkest evening. The speaker
is powerfully drawn to these woods and desires to lie
down and allow the snow to cover and ultimately
bury him underground. The third stanza has a dreamlike line that goes as "Of easy wind and downy
flake(12),". It prevents the inherent desire of his
subconscious wishto die in the dark and snowy
woods. The author says, "The woods are lovely, dark
and deep (13)," but he resists their morbid attraction.
The critics acknowledge that the central
theme relates to the speaker's dilemma in selecting
among the responsibilities of daily life and appeal of
nature in human society. However, the poem’s
ambiguity has led to widespread critical debates.
Many have indicated that this vagueness is in part is
the determination factor of the great poet. Yet
another typical interpretation is that, the orator is
contemplating suicide referring the woods, “lovely,
dark, and deep, (11)”. It indicates the temptation of
death as a means of escape from the routine duties
of daily life.The first line authorizes the voice of a
person reflecting quietly within himself on the
scenario in front of him: "Whose woods these are I
think I know(1)." He pauses here on "the darkest
evening of the year(8),". It is the unit of time
suspended amid the day and the night; amidst
unconsciousness and consciousness; among sleeping
and waking; between oblivion and life. There is a bit
of uncertainty in the author saying to himself, "I think
I know” (1). It again signifies the meeting point, of
38
Vol.3 Issue 2
2016
what he is aware and what he is doing or not. This
resistance, his lack of confidence, and the muffled
sense of passion presents the tension by which the
poem functions.Fewinfer that the speaker selects, by
the end of the poem, to oppose the allurement of
nature and retreats cover to the world of men. But
some people place their argument about the
repetition of the speaker specifically the last line,
“And miles to go before I sleep”, (16) suggests an
indecisiveness as to whether or not he will, “keep”
the “promises (14)”, by which he is obliged to return
to society.
Here one could recommend that “Escape
acceptance” is mainly on the basis of conception that
life is so tedious and hard that death acts as a relief.
The poem physically agrees that escape acceptance is
expressed through suicide and assisted suicide.
Cicirelli found that when a person encounters
functional loss or intractable pain, they desire to end
their lives. In such situations, the death fear is too
less than the fear to be alive (663).
WILLIAM BRYANT’S DEATH CONSCIOUS: A
NOTE
"Thanatopsis", a famous poem of William
Cullen Bryant’s literally denotes the “view of death”.
This poem is considered as a classic regarding death
as it provides a placid viewpoint of death. Moreover,
no matter what an individual’s religious faith, the
poem is still relevant. The poem seems to adopt
“Approach acceptance” attitude that implies the
belief a happy afterlife and reflects a positive outlook
on death. Even death found to be an unpleasant end
to everything and need not be feared; though it is
natural to feel it. Nature provides us this fear for a
cause.And yes, it is reasonable for a person to deny
the fears and feel empty of them. Many still feel
connected to them at a later point, whether it is
comfortable or not. One would be able to live with
this fear and still have a happy life, as many do. For
the cause of justconsoling the reader,regarding their
dismay of death and dying, Bryant achieves this well.
In his words, Bryant draws a picture of life after
death and companionship. Moreover,yet that
comfort is very primitive:
“To that mysterious realm, where each
shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Dr.Norah Hadi Alsaeed
VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL)
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http://www.joell.in
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained
and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy
grave,
Like one who wraps the drapery of his
couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant
dreams.”
In Thanatopsis, this fear is recognized and
seemingly implied as being unnecessary. Bryant
utilizes his determination of death first to accept the
fears regarding it and then try to convince the reader.
This acknowledgment is evident within the first three
sections, from lines 1-30, and then Bryant gradually
introduces the reader to the concept that death is
not a factor to be feared. It is at this conjunction
where Thanatopsis evolves to be a hopeful guess that
death is not what people expect and fear. He
becomes glamorous in his ideals that "thou shalt lie
down with patriarchs of the infant world; all in one
mighty sepulcher (34-35)". He provides ideas on an
afterlife with religious notes though there are
apparent efforts to sway away from religion. Bryant's
usage of thoughts or words provides the impact that
death is glorious and the end of his physical self .
In Thanatopsis Bryant considers death a final
sleep where "the dead reign” (55). Though it is
soothing to consider this and have faith, it has also
been atheory and nothing more. At the same time,
the poem advances almost into a fairy tale. Bryant's
cause of encouraging the reader is expected, but yet
it deflects the reader from reality. Bryant never
thinks that death could indeed be the edge to life or
more, unlike the glamorous departure that he
explains. While this fact may be found to be
unpleasant by some, it does not lead the reader to
happiness on false terms.
Thanatopsis sees death as part of the return
to nature, similar to death which is another part of
life itself. "Earth, that cultivated thee, shall claim Thy
growth, to be resolved to earth again, (22-23).”This
quote defines that as a human has lived on Earth, the
Earth will in turn now live over that person. The
individual will live on but in a different format:
"Submitting up Thee individual being, shall thou go to
mingle forever with the components, (26-27)”. What
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Vol.3 Issue 2
2016
this quote means is that the person continues to live
in Nature through every part of the individual has
vanished. Thanatopsis also informs the reader that
he/she will not be the only person to encounter
death. Everyone who has passed away is already
there. People who have not gone yet will eventually
be there. Age or social class does not matter. All of us
share one thing that is death. In that way, we are all
equal, and death becomes the great equalizer.The
poem also offers living comfort. "and what if thou
depart in calmness from the living, and no friend
notice thy departure? All that breathe Will share thy
fate (59-60)”. This quote gives contentment for the
living as well. For those who have no one in life, they
will not be alone in death. Nobody would ever like a
family member or a friend to experience pain or to
be left alone. Moreover, Bryant informs us that no
person will be alone ever. It is very easy to allow
someone to go in this regard.
The real class of the poem is that it offers
pleasure to a person irrespective of his/her religious
beliefs. If the individual is an atheist or agnostic, the
poem views death as just a part of Nature’s cyclein
which we return to nature. If the person is a Christian
or Muslim, the poem offers a distinctionbetween the
soul and the body. The body comes back to Nature,
and there has been no indication of the spirit or soul.
The spirit or soul can be found moving anywhere as
there is no indication of it. Hence, this poem is
completely able to interpret to Christianity or Islam
or atheism. Hence, the poem is identical with various
different religions.
Under this, “Approach acceptance” is
implanted in spiritual and religious beliefs in a
favorable afterlife. For people who include such
faiths, the afterlife is better than a symbolic eternity,
as it typically connects with divine religious belief or
faith in a surpassing realism. Approach acceptance is
on the basis of the social construction of life over the
grave. Hence, providing comfort and hope to the
dying as well as the deprived. Notably Flannelly,
Weaver, Costa, and Harding indicated rules that
evaluate belief in the Afterlife and belief in God’s
presence.They were both negatively associated with
the anxiety of death but positively related to death
acceptance(253-261).
Dr.Norah Hadi Alsaeed
VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL)
An International Peer Reviewed Journal
http://www.joell.in
EMILY DICKINSON’S TREATMENT OF DEATH
The theory of mortality,about her demise,
occurs everywhere in Emily Dickinson’s letters and
poems. In regards to Emily Dickinson’s poem,
Because I Could Not Stop for Death, Death
Acceptance attitude is reflected and conveys
“Neutral Acceptance attitude”.The items included in
Neutral Acceptance subscale is divided into two
factors, Death Acceptance, and Death Avoidance. It
indicates that Neutral Acceptance subscale could
measure various pathways of death acceptance
limiting the belief of an afterlife. She echoes the call
of her soul:
“Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just ourselves –
And Immortality.”
Critic Eunice Glenn mentions: “In the initial
two lines Death, illustrated as a carriage driver,
ceases for one who could not cease for him. The term
‘kindly’ is specifically meaningful, for it
immediatelyrepresents Death. Itis a surprise, as
death is more often considered grim and terrible
(Online)”. Critic Charles R. Anderson indicates that
death is usually rude, occurs suddenly and has
changed into a compassionate and restful gentleman
(Online)”. Both critics are found to agree on the
importance of the term “kindly” in the initial two
lines of the poem. “As I could not pause for Death,
He gentlyhaltedfor me” (1-2). They consider the word
“kindly” for its most common definitions such as
pleasant, andagreeable benevolent. With further
investigation, more interesting descriptions are
available. The term ‘kindly’ is defined by The Oxford
English Dictionary as“by nature; naturally; by natural
disposition; characteristically and in the way suitable
or appropriate to the nature of the thing;
appropriately and fittingly”. The poem may have
different insights based on these definitions.
Apparently, Death performed a charitable act for the
sake to speaker when applying these least used
definitions. In spite of this, it is mandatory for the
death stopping for the speaker which should be
proper as well. The natural course of things were
followed and she is clear that Death was just
obligated to stop for her rather than suggesting
Death as a charming “courteous carriage driver,”
40
Vol.3 Issue 2
2016
which she could not stop. It seems to be quite
interesting to note the speech by her stating she
“wouldn’t” stop. But Charles Anderson and some
critics like him suggest that she should first be
engaged in her complete life to stop like all busy
mortals (Anderson, online). On the other hand,
another Critic named Patricia Engle further enquires,
“What does the speaker—or anyone—stop doing for
Death?” As an answer to her question, Engle says:
“We stop living.” In order to posturize here point, she
further added about the poem speaker that “She
understands that she cannot realize Death’s power
over her. Once she identifies with that eternal or
divine bent within her, Death stops; that is, Death
ceases to be what Death is—an end” (74). An
accurate analysis of the poem is portrayed here
based on the deeper analysis in a holistic
perspective. Our speaker doesn’t have any final
stopping like Death. The carriage only “paused” at
the grave (17). “The Horses’ Heads / Were toward
Eternity—” (23-24). The poem further suggested that
in no way that death can be taken as an end to the
existence of human being rather than which it opens
up the other world. It denotes the often overlooked,
passenger in the carriage of Immortality (4). In the
case of Mortals, they do not stop for death instead of
which death stops for them. The immortality can be
achieved through Death which can results in the end.
In spite when she thought to do so, the speaker
wouldn’t be able to have stopped for Death. The
grave is merely a brief pause in the journey toward
Eternity.
When Dickinson chose to personify the
death as a carriage driver, she cleverly had a definite
purpose. Based on the terminology present in the
Handbook of Literary Terms it is mentioned as,
“Personification allows an author to dramatize the
nonhuman world in human terms” (Kennedy,
112). By enabling death with human aspects, it
evolves to be less frightening to the speaker. She
understands the Death as the concept now. Seeing
as “the problem of mortality is one of mindset”
(Engle 74), making death human helps the speaker to
get past that problem. It is much easier for the
speaker to believe she can overcome the grave when
she sees death as an amiable carriage driver,
conducting her into eternity, rather than an
Dr.Norah Hadi Alsaeed
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An International Peer Reviewed Journal
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unwanted fate that would eliminate her
existence. As the speaker wished to become the
immortal Human being, Death, through natural and
proper way of reaching, gives up his claim upon her.
Death stops being an end, and becomes, rather, the
means of conducting mortals into eternity.
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CONCLUSION
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Death is for the modern mind no more than
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scientific culture. Frost, Bryant, and Dickinson show
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An International Peer Reviewed Journal
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